IN JUST HOURS, VOTERS WILL START CASTING THEIR BALLOTS FOR A COUNTY SALES TAX. 40/29'S EMILY MAHER SHOWS US HOW THE ONE CENT TAX ADDS UP TO BIG MONEY FOR SOME GROUPS. IT'S NEW TONIGHT. (looklive: This Senior Center is more than just a place for senior citizens to get together. For some seniors in Sebastian County, this is where they come to get the only meal of their day) "these people are getting one meal a day provided by us. One meal, one meal" DEANNA RICE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR NINE SENIOR CITIZEN CENTERS IN SEBASTIAN COUNTY SHE SAYS THE CENTERS RECEIVED NEARLY 70-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE PENNY SALES TAX LAST YEAR RICE SAYS THE SENIOR CENTERS SERVED NEARLY 30,000 MEALS DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL SHE SAYS LOSING THE MONEY FROM THE SALES TAX WOULD BE A HUGE LOSS. "last year my food costs to provide these meals was 450-thousnad dollars. So as you can see we desperately need that money from that sales tax" SENIOR CENTERS ARE NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT WOULD FEELTHE LOSS IF THE SALES TAX IS NOT RENEWED THE "PENNY SALES TAX" MAKES UP MORE THAN ONE- THIRD OF THE FORT SMITH PUBLIC LIBRARY'S BUDGET "There would be some cuts in the next budget period. It wouldn't be catastrophic, but it would certainly be detrimental" COUNTY LEADERS SAY LOSING THE MONEY FROM THE SALES TAX MEANS COUNTY AND CITY JOBS WOULD HAVE TO BE CUT "There's no way be no way that we could recuperate. There would have to be reductions in the level of service. That's just a financial fact" JUDGE DAVID HUDSON SAYS MOST OF THOSE CUTS WOULD COME FROM FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. (looklive "Early voting starts tomorrow morning at 8 AM voters can go to either the Sebastian county courthouse in Greenwood or Fort Smith Early voting ends May 13 Emily maher 40/29 news) SEBASTIAN COUNTY VOTERS CAN HEAD TO THEIR NORMAL POLLING PLACES ON MAY 14 FROM 7:30 A-M UNTIL 7:30 P.M TO CAST THEIR VOTE ON WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE THE SALES TAX.